Two Stamford police officers suspended

Investigation launched into relationship with 16-year-old girl

STAMFORD -- Two veteran city police officers were suspended with pay last week while an investigation is conducted into a possibly inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl, police Chief Jon Fontneau said.

Fontneau said an internal investigation has been launched following allegations involving the officers surfaced May 15.

The officers' identities are being withheld since no charges or disciplinary measures have been taken.

On May 16 the officers were suspended pending the results of the investigation, Fontneau said.

One officer is 43 years old and has been on the force since 2002 and serves in the department's Narcotics and Organized Crime squad. The second officer is in his 30s and has been on the force since 2007 and is a member of the K-9 unit.

Fontneau declined to name the officers, but said the behavior the two officers were alleged to have had with the girl are not criminal in nature.

He said the investigation is actively being worked on and he expects it will be wrapped up quickly.

Fontneau would not comment on what exactly the allegations were, but said he would be able to go into further detail when the investigation was completed.

A police official, who did not want to be named, said the allegations involve the officers "dating" the girl and it was not known if the two had sex with her. The investigation hopes to delve into that aspect of the relationship, the official said.

In most instances someone older having a sexual relationship with a person aged 16 is not a criminal offense. In Connecticut the age of consent -- the age at which one is legally able to agree to have sex -- is 16.

State statutes, however, make it a criminal offense for a school employee or coach to have sex with a student under the age of 18. It is also a felony offense to be over 20 years of age and have sex with someone under 18 while being in a position of power, authority or supervision over the younger person.